Why do we laugh when being tickled when it’s not enjoyable whatsoever?
As with most things biological, there is a tremendous amount of guess-work required to come up with a meaningful answer. There are many theories as to why we are ticklish and why we respond the way we do to it. The most compelling to me is the theory that tickling is related to play-fighting.
The Short Answer
As with most things biological, there is a tremendous amount of guess-work required to come up with a meaningful answer. There are many theories as to why we are ticklish and why we respond the way we do to it. The most compelling to me is the theory that tickling is related to play-fighting. The young of many social animals participate in play fighting where they will attack each other without the intent of causing serious harm. The human behavior of tickling seems to map very well to this, forcing the person being attacked to respond in a way which appears to be happy, and thus not distressing to the attacker. Children generally like some amount of tickling, but this fades over time at about the same time that 'play' of this sort gives way to other interactions.
Analysis
Key Concepts: Tickling, amount, respond
This explanation focuses on tickling, amount, respond and spans 138 words across 6 sentences. At 103% above the average Psychology explanation (68 words), this is one of the more thorough answers in this category, reflecting the complexity of the underlying question.
What This Answer Covers
The explanation opens with: “As with most things biological, there is a tremendous amount of guess-work required to come up with a meaningful answer.” It then elaborates by presenting a contrasting perspective, ultimately building toward a complete picture across 6 connected points.
How This Compares in Psychology
Ranked #34 of 500 Psychology questions by answer depth (top 8%). This places it in the comprehensive tier — the top quarter of most thoroughly answered questions. Questions at this depth typically involve multi-faceted topics requiring nuanced explanation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a simple explanation for why we laugh when being tickled when it's not enjoyable whatsoever?
As with most things biological, there is a tremendous amount of guess-work required to come up with a meaningful answer. There are many theories as to why we are ticklish and why we respond the way we do to it. The most compelling to me is the…
How detailed is this explanation compared to similar Psychology questions?
This is one of the most thorough answer at 138 words, ranked #34 of 500 Psychology questions by depth. The key concepts covered are tickling, amount, respond.
What approach does this answer take to explain we laugh when being tickled when it's not enjoyable whatsoev?
The explanation uses contrasting perspectives across 138 words. It is categorized under Psychology and addresses the question through 1 analytical lens.